Watch as Coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro explains and shows video clips of a few stride drills for pitchers. The first two drills are working on the pitcher’s left side, using ankle weights and string. Drill […]
Adversity Is Part of the Journey with Seth Greenberg – ESPN
Watch as Seth Greenberg explains that adversity ‘visits the strong and lives with the weak,’ so the only option is to deal with it. He encourages no whining, no complaining, no excuses, and no regrets. […]
Buying In
By: Alan Stein, Jr. Originally Published in: Raise Your Game Buy-in means that the members of your organization choose to embrace, share, and maintain the culture a coach is trying to create. A culture doesn’t […]
Resistance Band Slapping Drill with Jessica Bracamonte – Univ. of Toledo
Watch as Coach Jessica Bracamonte explains, and slappers demonstrate this footwork drill utilizing a resistance band. The drill works by helping slappers stay in the box on a consistent basis. Coach believes in giving each […]
Specific Exercises to Reduce the Risk of Shoulder Injuries with Donna Scarborough, PhD.
Watch as Donna Scarborough – PT, MS, PhD explains, and an athlete demonstrates these specific exercises to reduce the risk of shoulder injury. Donna will present a detailed breakdown of exercises for: strengthening posture and […]
When You Win, Lose, and Rubbing
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual Provided by: Championship Productions “Be hard on them when you win, and love them when you lose.” – Unknown Years ago, I read this quote in […]
Defensive Philosophy with Larissa Anderson – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Larissa Anderson explains the core principles and philosophy for the Missouri Tigers Defense. Catching, throwing, and learning the speed of the game are keys.
Don’t Take Your Job for Granted with Molly Fichtner – Univ. of Louisiana Monroe
Watch as Coach Molly Fichtner talks about not taking a job for granted. Coach describes the importance of focusing on where you are at and what your school needs. One of her goals is to […]
How the “Why?” Generation Is Making Coaches Better with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Stephen Mackey gives an interesting take on how today’s generation always asking ‘why?’ can make your coaches better. When coaches communicate, they should always start with ‘yes’ and not ‘no’. If you start with ‘no’, […]
Pitcher’s Spin Progression with Ryker Chason – Univ. of Mississippi
Watch as Coach Ryker Chason explains, and a pitcher demonstrates a curve ball spin progression that works on technique and posture. The pitcher will start close up to the catcher and gradually move back toward […]
Accountability and Empathy with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Watch as Dr. Dale discusses accountability and empathy. Your program should have high standards, and everyone should be held accountable to those standards. He describes empathy as the ability to put yourself in someone else’s […]
Hazing in Athletics
Hazing in Athletics: A Culture that the Realm of Athletics and Coaching May Unknowingly Contribute To! By: Rick Farnham, Retired AD – University of Vermont Athletics have always professed that “sports build character,” but it […]
Communicating Your Vision with Dr. Alex Auerbach – Toronto Raptors
Watch as Dr. Alex Auerbach discusses setting goals on a vision. Great coaches have the ability to communicate to an individual or team on what they can accomplish and convey the belief that they can […]
Building Relationships
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics Ability and desire to relate to athletes are critical in coaching. The coach-athlete relationship provides a foundation for effective […]
Parents Need to Take a Step Back with Christa Williams-Yates – Friendswood HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Christa Williams-Yates explains that parents sometimes think a player’s performance is a reflection on them and suggests that they need to take a step back. Parents should focus on the process and […]
Build the Batting Lineup Efficiently with Scott Whitlock – (Retired) Kennesaw State Univ.
Watch as Scott Whitlock explains that when you are assessing your team you must build your batting order so that it is efficient. He encourages looking at the 2-hole hitter as an RBI opportunity hitter. […]
Catchers: Prevent Bad Habits in the Bullpen with Lisa Navas – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Coach Lisa Navas explains that catchers can develop bad habits if they relax in the bullpen. Catchers need to get the ball back to the pitcher with good tempo emphasizing proper arm alignment […]
Infielder’s Figure 8 Drill with Mary Jo Firnbach – Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale
Watch as Coach Mary Jo Firnbach explains, and infielders demonstrate this figure 8 drill. The drill works on footwork, setting up to attack the ball forward, and glove flips. Each player will take 5 reps, […]
Use Social Media as a Tool
By: Becky Burleigh – (Retired) Univ. of Florida Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Most athletes have outward-facing social media as well as inward-facing social media. You can post […]
Timing Slap Drill with Tim Walton – Univ. of Florida
Watch as Coach Tim Walton explains and shows video clips of the Timing Slap Drill. Strategically, if the batters can show bunt and pull back to swing hard, you cause the infield to be out […]
7 Key Steps for Making Ethical Decisions
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics To help you make ethical decisions in your own coaching, here are seven key steps. Recognize that ethical decisions […]
Foul Ball Pop Fly Catcher’s Drill with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains that catching foul fly ball pop-ups is a skill that needs to be practiced. The catcher must turn their back to the infield on a foul ball behind the plate because […]
Building Bat Speed: Quick Toss – Weighted Balls with Ralph Weekly – Univ. of Tennessee
Watch as Coach Ralph Weekly explains and shows a clip of his best hitting drill. This side toss drill uses weighted baseballs with 3 sets of 24 swings that helps develop bat speed.
Helping Athletes Overcome Perfectionism with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that athletes are dealing with pressure and expectations that come from the community and from themselves. Most athletes do not expect growth or personal best but instead, perfection. Athletes should […]
Where Is the Title IX Finish Line with Peg Pennepacker – High School Title IX Consulting Services
Watch as Peg Pennepacker discusses the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and where she sees the end goal or “mythical finish line”. There has been a lot of positive movement in the last 10 years, […]
A Lot of Try
By: Coach Mickey Marley Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning Previously, I shared that my daddy was a professional cowboy in Texas. Kid Marley had many clever sayings related to his […]
Infielder’s Short Hop Practice Drills with Leslie Huntington – Univ. of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Watch as Coach Leslie Huntington explains, and infielders demonstrate these short hop warm-up drills. The players start on their knees facing each other, working straight on. They turn sideways, still on the knees, to work […]
Networking
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics The old saying that “it’s not what you know but who you know” doesn’t always hold true, but having […]
Pitching: Tempo of Movement with Melyssa Lombardi – Univ. of Oregon
Watch as Coach Melyssa Lombardi discusses the impact of tempo on pitching consistency and explains why most issues with mechanics stem from the same problem.
Catcher IQ – Know Your Pitcher with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains the importance of catchers understanding a pitcher’s routine, mechanics, spins, movement, and key words. Having your catchers study film of the pitchers allows them to understand the base and then to […]